Cool Don't Live Here No More: A Letter to San Francisco

Review (Jerry Dear. San Francisco Public Library. Written for APALA 2016)

"Tony Robles, a poet and community activist of our times, crafts lucid poetry whose words capture the eroding heart and soul of San Francisco. In his first book of poetry Cool Don’t Live Here No More: A Letter to San Francisco, Robles chronicles the voices of the poor, the struggling middle class, the inhabitants of a city who once made San Francisco their home for generations, but are now being evicted from their homes due to the onslaught of gentrification.

"Like an artist whose creativity has shriveled up and gone dry, so has San Francisco lost its alluring attraction, devoid of vi- tality and sustenance. It is as though this City by the Bay— which once opened its doors to people from all walks of life as an immigrant entry point—can no longer promise refuge for those seeking to start their lives anew. Instead, a shad- owy menace has somehow snuck in, robbing this city of its cultural vitality over time.

Despite this spiritual decay, bridge builders, social workers, employment counselors, community ambassadors, local artists, tenant advocates, and many others comprise the pas- tiche of characters populating the pages of Robles’s book with stories of their own to tell. Each story bears a slice of life, each dispensing its unique brand of experience in an original voice, crying out to be heard, savored, and remem- bered. By employing various forms through poetry, vignettes, and monologues, Robles combines a mosaic of styles to illu- minate various social identities that shape the cultural es- sence of San Francisco. "

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